Think Above Par | Your Mental Caddy for Golf Mindset & Performance

Kathy Hart Wood
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Serious golfer? You know you’ve got the talent—but your brain keeps getting in the way. Think Above Par helps you master the mental game of golf, stop overthinking, and quit worrying about what others think on the course so you can play calm, confident, and consistent golf every round. If you’re a serious golfer who knows you’re leaving shots out on the course, Think Above Par is your go-to podcast for mastering the mental game of golf. Hosted by Kathy Hart —a former Tour player, Top 50 Teacher, and Certified Mental Coach—each episode helps you strengthen your golf mindset, manage pressure, and play calm, confident, and consistent golf. You’ll discover why you underperform under pressure, how to stop overthinking your swing, and what to do when you’re worried about what others think on the golf course. Whether you struggle with performance anxiety, perfectionism, or negative self-talk, Kathy shares proven mental-game tools to help you unlock your talent, enjoy the game again, and lower your golf scores. Learn how to think above par—so you can play below par. Subscribe now to your weekly dose of golf mindset coaching and start transforming your golf brain today.

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    Why You Play Worse on the Back Nine (And How to Stay Calm Under Pressure)

    Ever make the turn, realize you’re playing well… and suddenly everything feels tighter? Welcome to your back nine brain. In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly what happens when you go from playing freely to trying not to mess it up—and why that shift is what actually costs you the round. We’re talking about: Why your brain goes into “protect the score” modeThe sneaky difference between “I’ve got this” and “don’t blow it”How future-thinking kills your ability to swing freelyAnd the simple shift that helps you stay present and finish strongHere’s the truth: nothing has gone wrong—you just left the present moment. If you’ve ever felt the pressure creep in on the back nine (or the last few holes), this episode will help you spot it, laugh at it, and get right back to playing your game. One shot. One decision. One commitment. Let’s go. How many shots is your mental golf costing you? Take the quiz here: quiz.mymentalcaddy.com Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-Coaching Mastering Your Golf Brain - The Workbook Mental Golf Journal - A Range for Your Brain Are all available at KathyHartWood.com/book Private coaching starts with a Free Discovery Call here:  Email Kathy at Kathy@KathyHartWood.com Website: KathyHartWood.com

    11 min

  2. 18 MAR

    How to Calm Tournament Nerves (5 Steps That Actually Work)

    Got a tournament coming up and your brain is already spiraling? You’re not broken—your brain is just trying to protect you. In this episode, I’ll show you what’s actually happening when nerves kick in and give you a simple 5-step process to calm your mind, quiet the noise, and show up ready to play. Because it’s not about getting rid of nerves…  It’s about not letting them run the show. If you’ve ever thought “I’m not ready” before a round—this is for you. How many shots is your mental golf costing you? Take the quiz here: quiz.mymentalcaddy.com Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-Coaching Mastering Your Golf Brain - The Workbook Mental Golf Journal - A Range for Your Brain Are all available at KathyHartWood.com/book Private coaching starts with a Free Discovery Call here:  Email Kathy at Kathy@KathyHartWood.com Website: KathyHartWood.com

    16 min

  3. 11 MAR

    Why Your Brain Sabotages Your Golf Game

    Ever feel like your brain turns against you on the golf course? One minute you’re standing over the ball… and the next your brain is yelling: Don’t hit it in the water. Don’t mess this up. Everyone’s watching. In this episode, I’m sharing a funny story about my husband assembling a bike rack without reading the instructions—and how golfers do the exact same thing with their brains. Here’s the truth: your brain wasn’t designed to help you shoot lower scores. It was designed to keep you alive. That means it’s constantly scanning for danger, mistakes, embarrassment, and anything that might go wrong. So if your mind goes negative on the golf course… nothing has gone wrong. You just haven’t been given the instruction manual. In this episode, I’ll walk you through why your brain works this way and how a little awareness can help you guide your thoughts instead of getting pushed around by them. Because when you understand your brain, the pressure drops—and the game gets a lot more fun. ⛳️ KathyHartWood.com How many shots is your mental golf costing you? Take the quiz here: quiz.mymentalcaddy.com Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-Coaching Mastering Your Golf Brain - The Workbook Mental Golf Journal - A Range for Your Brain Are all available at KathyHartWood.com/book Private coaching starts with a Free Discovery Call here:  Email Kathy at Kathy@KathyHartWood.com Website: KathyHartWood.com

    12 min

  4. 4 MAR

    The Real Source of Golf Fear

    Most of the fear you feel on the golf course doesn’t come from your swing. It comes from the questions you’re asking yourself. In this episode, I’m breaking down the sneaky “I don’t know” questions that spike anxiety, tighten your body, and send your brain into full-on threat mode. “Am I going to shoot under par?”  “What are they thinking about me?”  “Am I about to blow this round?” Your brain hates uncertainty. And when you ask questions you can’t actually answer, it fills in the blank with fear. I’ll show you how to catch those questions, swap them out, and create certainty your brain can actually work with — so you can play present, confident, and free. Because the solutions are inside of you. Not in the wind. Not in your score. Not in someone else’s head. Let’s clean up your questions and calm that golf brain down. ⛳️ How many shots is your mental golf costing you? Take the quiz here: quiz.mymentalcaddy.com Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-Coaching Mastering Your Golf Brain - The Workbook Mental Golf Journal - A Range for Your Brain Are all available at KathyHartWood.com/book Private coaching starts with a Free Discovery Call here:  Email Kathy at Kathy@KathyHartWood.com Website: KathyHartWood.com

    8 min

  5. 25 FEB

    Why More Practice Won’t Fix Your Tournament Play

    You’re putting in the reps. You’re taking lessons. You’re grinding on the range. So why does your tournament play still fall apart? In this episode, I’m breaking down why more practice alone won’t fix your performance under pressure — and why tournament golf exposes something completely different than your swing. Practice builds skill. But mental reps build belief. If you’re striping it on the range but tightening up in competition… if you’ve ever wondered why you can’t access your talent when it matters… this one’s for you. We’re talking about: • Why tournament pressure reveals your mental habits • How negative self-talk becomes automatic • Why managing emotions is a skill (just like your swing) • What to focus on this season if you want better tournament performance Because you don’t need more balls on the range. You need to stop practicing mental mistakes. And that changes everything. Get details on The Competitive Edge HERE How many shots is your mental golf costing you? Take the quiz here: quiz.mymentalcaddy.com Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-Coaching Mastering Your Golf Brain - The Workbook Mental Golf Journal - A Range for Your Brain Are all available at KathyHartWood.com/book Private coaching starts with a Free Discovery Call here:  Email Kathy at Kathy@KathyHartWood.com Website: KathyHartWood.com

    11 min

  6. 18 FEB

    How to Be a Great Golf Playing Partner

    What makes someone enjoyable to play golf with? In this episode, we’re talking about golf etiquette, emotional maturity, and the real reason people want (or don’t want) to be paired with you. It’s not your handicap. It’s not your swing. It’s not your score. It’s your energy. Golf is four hours of emotional exposure. And whether you realize it or not, how you show up on the course affects your playing partners more than your double bogey ever will. We’ll dive into: The qualities that make someone a great playing partnerHow self-awareness impacts your reputation at the clubWhy encouragement, curiosity, and emotional control matterThe hidden cost of being critical, negative, or rule-obsessedHow to be competitive and kind at the same timeIf you’ve ever wondered why certain golfers always get invited to play—and others slowly stop getting asked—this episode is for you. Because people won’t remember your score.  They’ll remember how you made them feel. Let’s raise the standard of how we show up. On the course and off. ⛳️ How many shots is your mental golf costing you? Take the quiz here: quiz.mymentalcaddy.com Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-Coaching Mastering Your Golf Brain - The Workbook Mental Golf Journal - A Range for Your Brain Are all available at KathyHartWood.com/book Private coaching starts with a Free Discovery Call here:  Email Kathy at Kathy@KathyHartWood.com Website: KathyHartWood.com

    10 min

  7. 11 FEB

    How to Handle Rule Bullies on the Golf Course

    Ever play with someone who uses the rules like a weapon?  Yeah… this episode is for that situation. Today we’re talking about mean girl energy on the golf course—rule enforcers who come in hot, loud, and intimidating (sometimes while being totally wrong). I break down why this behavior messes with your head, how it pulls you out of your game, and what’s actually going on with the person doing the correcting. You’ll learn how to stay grounded, protect your focus, and stop letting someone else’s need to be right hijack your round. Because rules are meant to protect the game—not someone’s ego. Let’s keep your brain calm, your confidence intact, and your shots where they belong. How many shots is your mental golf costing you? Take the quiz here: quiz.mymentalcaddy.com Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-Coaching Mastering Your Golf Brain - The Workbook Mental Golf Journal - A Range for Your Brain Are all available at KathyHartWood.com/book Private coaching starts with a Free Discovery Call here:  Email Kathy at Kathy@KathyHartWood.com Website: KathyHartWood.com

    13 min

  8. 4 FEB

    How to Stop Letting Wind Wreck Your Golf Round

    Ever played a great shot, walked up to tap it in, and watched the wind roll your ball 30 feet away? 😤 Yeah… we’re talking that kind of day. In this episode, I’m breaking down how wind messes with your mind—and what to do about it. You’ll learn why your brain freaks out in unpredictable conditions, how to stop arguing with reality, and what to focus on instead so you can stay calm, swing freely, and manage your round like a champ. If you're tired of letting the weather take over your game, this one’s for you. Because windy days don't have to blow your confidence. How many shots is your mental golf costing you? Take the quiz here: quiz.mymentalcaddy.com Continue your mental journey at Your Mental Caddy HERE Mastering Your Golf Brain - A Guide to Self-Coaching Mastering Your Golf Brain - The Workbook Mental Golf Journal - A Range for Your Brain Are all available at KathyHartWood.com/book Private coaching starts with a Free Discovery Call here:  Email Kathy at Kathy@KathyHartWood.com Website: KathyHartWood.com

    12 min
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Serious golfer? You know you’ve got the talent—but your brain keeps getting in the way. Think Above Par helps you master the mental game of golf, stop overthinking, and quit worrying about what others think on the course so you can play calm, confident, and consistent golf every round. If you’re a serious golfer who knows you’re leaving shots out on the course, Think Above Par is your go-to podcast for mastering the mental game of golf. Hosted by Kathy Hart —a former Tour player, Top 50 Teacher, and Certified Mental Coach—each episode helps you strengthen your golf mindset, manage pressure, and play calm, confident, and consistent golf. You’ll discover why you underperform under pressure, how to stop overthinking your swing, and what to do when you’re worried about what others think on the golf course. Whether you struggle with performance anxiety, perfectionism, or negative self-talk, Kathy shares proven mental-game tools to help you unlock your talent, enjoy the game again, and lower your golf scores. Learn how to think above par—so you can play below par. Subscribe now to your weekly dose of golf mindset coaching and start transforming your golf brain today.

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